This is a post for Thematic Photographic 176, "Strangers among us". Carmi asked us to take "a photo of a stranger, any stranger" and post it to our blogs.
For most of these choices, I'm the stranger!
In April, for my first morning in Rome, I had booked a guided tour to see the Vatican, St Peter's Basilica, etc. - a good way of avoiding the loooong lines of people queueing to get in, sometimes for hours. This is the group of strangers I was about to spend the day with, pictured as we waited for the guide to sort something out.
When I downloaded this shot taken in the timeless streets of Pompei, I was amused
to see a man busy talking on his cellphone:
If you've been to Pompei you will remember the large open sheds where there are lots of artefacts stacked roof-high, and a number of glass cases with twisted bodies, human and animal, 'mummified' by the ash:
In Palermo I enjoyed seeing this young monk having his visit to the Cathedral recorded - an elderly lady, his mother I'd guess, was taking the photo:
These two ladies, residents of Parma, were too busy crossing the square outside the Duomo to cast a glance at strange photographers:
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
~ Tennessee Williams
